Sean Curran Company to Play the Joyce Theater, 1/29-2/2

The Seán Curran Company celebrates its 15th anniversary season with four performances at The Joyce Theater January 29 through February 2, 2013. The nine-member troupe will offer two premieres: Fireweather, with music by Charles Wuorinen, and Left Exit, to a score by Jerome Begin. Curran and his dancers collaborated on the choreography for both pieces.

Performances:

Tuesday, January 29 at 7:30 p.m.Thursday, January 31 at 8 p.m. (Dance Chat after the performance)Saturday, February 2 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

The dramatic Fireweather reflects the tone and atmosphere of Charles Wuorinen's composition for two pianos, "The Mission of Virgil," which was inspired by Dante's Inferno. Wuorinen looked to William Blake's luminous depictions of scenes from the Inferno to spur his imagination, where as Curran found inspiration both in Blake and the powerful engravings of Gustave Doré. He matches the haunting depictions of the Inferno's horrors with the intense and vigorous movement of his choreography.

Left Exit explores the eternal need for spirituality, faith and religion. Having a strict Catholic upbringing, Curran feels strongly connected to its theme. Curran delves into the many manifestations of the human search for meaning with gusto and sensitivity. Performed to Begin's thrilling score by the Left Hand Path Ensemble, the passionate work is filled with Curran's startling images and wonderfully satisfying, complex patterning.